When it comes to towing, the Hyundai ix35 quietly gets on with the job. It may not be outstanding in any one area, but it’s definitely worth a look if you’re shopping for a £25k 4×4.

At the legal limit, the ix35 is stable and steady. If caught by a sudden gust it takes a while to settle down again, but never caused any nervous moments travelling in a straight line. In the lane-change test the Hyundai leaned heavily and started to slide on the second-fastest run. However, it always pulled straight again.

The Hyundai was happier in the hill-start test. The handbrake held without having to be pulled with undue force, and despite being one of the least-powerful cars in this weight category it easily pulled its caravan to the top of the 1-in-6 slope.

On paper the Hyundai’s 591-litre boot looks big, but in practice we couldn’t find room for a couple of items from our typical holiday luggage load. That said, our practicality testers were pleased to find a full-sized spare wheel, a reversing camera and an easily accessible towball and electric socket.

The ix35 is keenly priced and well equipped, and the five-year warranty is a definite plus if you hang on to your cars for a while.